Biodiesel Production from Jatropha Oil using Different Catalysts

Energy demand is special concern of the today world. Due to diminishing of world fossils fuel researchers seek suitable renewable fuels. Biodiesel production cost is very high compared to petrodiesel due cost of feedstock, so less expensive feedstock is of special concern, which include non-edible o

Project Title

Biodiesel Production from Jatropha Oil using Different Catalysts

Project Area of Specialization

Biomedical Engineering

Project Summary

Energy demand is special concern of the today world. Due to diminishing of world fossils fuel researchers seek suitable renewable fuels. Biodiesel production cost is very high compared to petrodiesel due cost of feedstock, so less expensive feedstock is of special concern, which include non-edible oils, waste cooking oil, animal fats. fatty acids chain that are derived from renewable feedstock such as vegetable oils, animal’s fats. Biodiesel can be produced by transesterification of high FFAs feedstock, vegetable oil or animal’s fats triacylglycerol in the presence of alcohol and suitable catalysts.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are organic salts composed of large cation with a small anion. In this research work the prepared ionic liquids include, SO3H-functionalized dicationic ammonium-based acidic ionic liquids and SO3H-functionalized Pyridinium based protic ionic liquids. Characterization of the relevant catalysts were done by NMR, techniques. The prepared catalysts were applied for biodiesel production to select the best catalyst with high activity in first screening phase.

Heterogeneous catalysts are a specific category of catalyst which shows specific catalytic activities, easily separable from the reaction mixture and give biodiesel which do not need too much purification steps. This research work includes heterogeneous catalysts 10% modified with tungestophosporic acid. The heterogeneous catalysts that were used include ZnSiO2, CuSiO2 and CoSiO2 modified with 10% tungstophosphoric acid.

After optimization of both the ionic liquids and heterogeneous catalysts, ionic liquids shown better catalytic activity.  Physicochemical properties of both the feedstock and biodiesel were determined by using the standard methods of characterization.

Project Objectives

• To identify, synthesize and characterise some ionic liquids and heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil/non-edible oils with methanol.
• To find a suitable catalyst for high FFA oils conversion in to biodiesel.
• To determine the optimum parameters for the best selected catalyst.
• To develop such catalyst that is environmentally friendly for the biodiesel production process.

Project Implementation Method

Characterization of oil

? Oil such as such as Jastopha, castor oil or waste cooking oil will be collected and after collection the oil will be subjected for purification. Moreover, the physiochemical properties like acid value, saponification value, peroxide value, viscosity, density and fatty acid composition, will be measured for the obtained oil.

 Synthesis  and characterization of ionic liquids (ILs) and Heterogeneous catalysts

? Synthesis of different cations and anions based acidic ionic liquids.

? The structure of synthesized ionic liquids will be confirmed by using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform Infra red (FTIR), and elemental analyser (CHNS). Other properties which are very important such as viscosity, density, surface tension, refractive index and water content will be measured. In this study viscometer, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and thermo gravimetric analyser (TGA) will also be used.39

?  Synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts and their structures will be confirmed by XRD, SEM, and FTIR techniques.46

? Studying the factors that have an impact on esterification (Type of catalysts as well their loading concentration, molar ratio of methanol and oil, time, temperature and agitation speed).40,45,46

? Charaterization of synthesised biodiesel physicochemical properties and compared using ASTM and Europeon methods.

? For the final product (biodiesel) which is actually ester contents and kinetic study GC-FID will be used.

? For the product qualitative analysis will be used NMR, FTIR and TGA techniques.

Benefits of the Project

The proposed project after completion will boost the country economy because many countries developed different protocol for biodiesel production and commercialized it. Pakistan is a developing country and facing many challenges in energy sector. If once commercialize this renewable fuel will boost the energy sector and will compete with the petrodiesel. Hopefully, after publishing this work will motivate the future researcher to work in renewable energy sector for the development of the country.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

• The use of ionic liquids will generate more effective, economic and environmental friendly technology to obtain renewable and sustainable biofuel. This project will also increase the trend of biodiesel production from high FFAs feedstock in Pakistan which is the need of developing countries.
• The ionic liquids synthesized in this work can be used to replace corrosive and non-recyclable catalysts in the conversion of high FFAs oil into biodiesel.
• This research will control pollution created from the waste oil dumping.
• Possible to published research papers in high impact factor journals.

Final Deliverable of the Project

Hardware System

Core Industry

Energy

Other Industries

Petroleum

Core Technology

Others

Other Technologies

Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Required Resources

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